There will be plenty of people looking to the heavens if Benaud can salute in Saturday’s esteemed Caulfield Cup.
The grey gelding is named in honour of legendary cricketer and commentator Richie Benaud, who was an Australian television favourite before he died in 2015.
The connections of the John O’Shea-trained runner had the Aussie icon in mind when they named the horse, and they will be cheering him on in one of the country’s most revered turf races.
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Benaud was a horse racing enthusiast, and often took to reading out odds and race results while commentating cricket Tests on television.
“The fact the name was even available was fantastic,” trainer O’Shea told 9News.
“We jumped at it, because it’s such a cool name and he’s such a cool horse.
“It would be cool to win for us, but it would be nice to win for (Benaud’s wife) Daph and all his old acquaintances.”
Benaud’s widow, Daphne, visited the stables on Thursday to meet the grey horse who will carry her late husband’s name at Caulfield.
She brought Benaud’s baggy green cap, and formed an immediate connection with the gelding.
“It was instant love,” Daphne said of the horse.
“(Richie) would be delighted. I don’t know if he would put money on it in case it put the horse off, but he would be delighted to follow it.
“It’s beautifully bred as well, by Reliable Man out of Baggy Green, which gives it an immediate cricket connotation.
“Hopefully Richie was the reliable man part.”
Benaud is listed as a $9 chance with most bookmakers to win the Caulfield Cup.
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